Post navigation

DayBreaks for 12/17/15 – The Dangerous Glad Tidings of Christmas

Luke 2:10 (NLT) – …but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.

From Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire blog, 2015:

“In Greek, the word “Gospel” is euangelion. Eu means good and angelion means tidings or message. This is where the word “angel” comes from, meaning simply “messenger.”

“Now we automatically associate this word with religion, as in evangelization or evangelical. But at the time of the Gospels, the term euangelion was associated especially with military victory. It was the good news of triumph in battle. More to it, euangelion was associated with the deity and accomplishments of the emperor of Rome. By Jesus’ time, it had become a commonplace that the Roman emperor was considered a god. Thus when an emperor was installed, euangelion was proclaimed. And when the emperor would write a new law or win a military victory or in any other way assert his command, it was announced as euangelion.

“So can you see how dangerous it is to announce the record of Jesus as a “gospel”? This good news has nothing to do with the Roman emperor and his army. It is proposing, in effect, a new emperor. And then for good measure, the writer Mark adds that he is writing the “gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Well, those were fighting words, for “son of God” was another title reserved for the Roman emperor.

“Do you wonder now why Christians were persecuted for the first three centuries of the Church’s life? Do you wonder why every single apostle except for John was martyred? Do you wonder now why they threw Christians to wild beasts? It’s because they announced the true euangelion.

“But what, or who, was this new emperor intending to fight? And what would be the nature of his military victory? John the Baptist provides us a clue. He preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. But one was coming who was greater than John, one for whom John prepared the way, and that greater man would baptize in the power of the Holy Spirit. He would take on all of human sin and swallow it up in the divine mercy.

“That’s the new emperor, and that’s the dangerous good news.”

Galen’s Thoughts: the “good news” that the angel proclaimed is the euangelion. It is to be news of joy for all people. Is the message and meaning of Christmas “good news” to you? Does it stir your heart to joy?

With the coming of Jesus to earth, a new emperor was being proclaimed – and of His reign there will be no end!

PRAYER: We are eager to hear Your good news afresh with new ears and minds open to wonder this Christmas, Lord. The good news of Your coming – and the purpose of Your arrival – are so much better than news of any military victory. Let Your law of love and message of Divine mercy be proclaimed by our songs, our word and our deeds. In Jesus’ name, Amen.